Red Bull Art of Can Chicago

If you find yourself in downtown Chicago in need of an energy boost, make your way to Millennium Park to visit Red Bull Art of Can. These days the sun sets as early as 4:30pm and Winter chills are encroaching quickly. The inspiring public art exhibition including a complimentary Red Bull is the perfect pick me up to counteract any Winter fatigue.

Hundreds of artists from across the nation conceptualized and submitted sculptural pieces of art created primarily of Red Bull cans. Thirty works were chosen for exhibition. Each prove inventive and impressive ranging from realistic to fantastical. "Mr. Bull a Community Brand", created by Kaleb Dean of Caldwell, ID is made entirely of can tabs. His subject is still, yet seemingly ready to spring to action similar to the artwork's material.

Red Bull Art of Can is a fun, interactive experience with personalized video sequences that are instantaneously sent to your cell and projected on the event's big screen. (Have you spotted me yet?) It doesn't stop there! Votes are cast for the "People's Choice Award" on Twitter and Instagram.

Although difficult to choose a favorite. I voted for "Swing of Things" by Angie Weaver of Delray Beach, FL. This piece is playful and evokes the invigorating and thrilling feeling of flying through the air on a swing as a kid. Red Bull gives you wings right?

      

Venue: Millennium Park - Chase Promenade South
Dates: November 7-16, 2014
Times: Monday-Friday: 7am-10pm, Saturday: 9am-10pm, Sunday: 9am-6pm

Chicago Festival Outfits 2014

The weather here in Chicago has evidently shifted cooler. (Snowing on Halloween, c'mon!) As I pull sweaters out of my closet and pack away sundresses and tanks, I can't help but recall my favorite Summer outfits. A few of which were given some amazing compliments in the Chicago festival scene.

Pitchfork July 18-20, 2014

I pretty much lived at the Blue stage this year. The buzzworthy stage presented a home for both TDE's SZA and Isaiah Rashad, Magical Cloudz, Kelela and FKA twigs. Saturday while en route through the dusty field and sweltering sun, a young lady sought after and received my attention. She was from Teen Vogue and asked to photograph my outfit. Passing for a Teen... nah :)

Fondly referred to as my "creature dress", the colorful inkblot pattern instantly caught my attention through the beautiful racks at Anthropologie. The cocoon silhouette, collar and optional synched waist sealed the deal. A patterned dress can be a go to and speak for itself... but I don't leave the house without accessories ha!

elevation:

• metallic dangly earrings: that sway to the rhythm of my stroll
• new favorite crystal necklace: the length of which draws attention to my waistline 
• fallback granny party purse: fits just what I need, allowing freedom to dance
• tan, black with metallic fleck wedges: that allow my shortie self to walk flat with plenty of height to see over the crowds

To think I hesitated slightly with my final edit before stepping out the door (shrug)!

The Best of Pitchfork Street Style: 21 Ultra-Cool Outfits to Copy Now

"This is one of the raddest dresses we've seen all festival season. We want it!"

Amanda Keiser

Shoutout to and Photographed by Amy Creyer

While enjoying Kelela's set I was tapped on the shoulder by a gentleman photographing for New York Times Fashion. Two compliments from notable publications in one day. What in the world! 

Initially I wasn't so sure about the location but there wound up being a level of dimension to this photo. The sunlight filtering through the fence gave me an afternoon spotlight. As the eye drifts from shadows, to the fence opening on the left, a parked car is visible and seemingly compliments the colors in my dress.

Shared the stylish company of SZA! Check out "SZA's Pitchfork Festival Style" for the New York Times.

Pitchfork Festival Style

Shoutout to and Photographed by Drew Anthony Smith

Lollapalooza July 31-August 2, 2014

While chatting with friends at Lollapalooza I felt a gentle tap from a young woman photographing for Refinery 29. Taking my very serious expressions from the two previous photographs into consideration ha I decided to cheese for this one. 

Although the simple t-shirt dress I scooped in Urban Outfitters sale is textured, it has a clean, neutral palette that begged for accessories. The scarf and jacket were my summer armor this year. I loved that she preferred leaving my jacket slung over my purse for the photo! 

elevation:

• black and white mock bone earrings: give a literal edge to the look
• purple & brown tortoise sunglasses: compliment my scarf
• multicolored printed scarf: twisted to give a three dimensional effect
• greyish purple tassle belt: to accentuate my waist since I have a narrow, boyish frame
• white lace tights: that don't work for many seasons but perfectly for a low 70ish day (yes I wear tights in August)
• emerald green "Victorian" lace up boots: that I've worn into the ground and can't give up
• army jacket: that has just enough feminine details 

Check out my Lolla weekend recap for Culture Collide and don't miss Lykke Li's stylishly brooding snap for Refinery 29!

Lollapalooza '14 in 32 Gorgeous Street Style Snaps

"The tights, the shoes, the scarf...we love it all."

Rebecca Taras

Shoutout to and Photographed by Heidi Jewell

North Coast August 29-31, 2014
North Coast, my final festival of the season. (September = festivaled out.) Highlights from this year were Talib Kweli, Cashmere Cat and Snoop Dogg. In fact we heard a legendary crowd participatory moment during Snoop's set. I wish I recorded it. PartyLineChicago for Chi based Fashion blog Trés Awesome asked to take my photo.

I lived in my boyfriend jeans and army fatigue cargos this summer. However I did not wear my army jacket with my fatigue pants. That's just too much army y'all. There's some repeat pieces here. I love wearing accessories and separates in new ways.

elevation:

light brown fedora: menswear inspired to compliment the fatigues
gold three prong asymmetrical earrings: the gold has worn off a bit but I prefer them distressed

So I lost my sunglasses :( I'm so glad I have photos to remember them!

North Coast 2014 [Streetstyle]

Shoutout to and Photographed by PartyLineChicago

Fresh Noise : Autumn 2014

Autumn can be a nostalgic time of year fostering songs and albums that captured the first day of school or moving into a new apartment (particularly if you've lived in Boston). This fall is not only signified by a whirlwind of colors as the leaves change but of electronic vibrations and smooth vocals.

Willow Smith continues to surprise and impress listeners with her latest track "Your Love". Her sweet coos and bird cries gracefully progress into a sassy tell off. "My emotions change like the weather... and I'm sad." she sings coarsely. Though in seconds she's giggling, seemingly removed from any previously alluded distress. Perhaps telling of the innocence and quick heartedness of young love. Willow or Wilough rather pulls off a modern yet retro sound in this mature return. Brace yourself for an exciting finale!

The love continues as Caribou addresses "Our Love" from his long anticipated album of the same name. The bass is ever prominent while a repetitive murmur comes up for air now and again. Dan Snaith takes his time as he transforms Michael Jackson hip flexes into heady club grooves. Our Love in its entirety will carry us not only through the Fall but the next year. Listen to Caribou's diverse Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1 featuring tracks from Our Love, classic Soul records and Toro y Moi's Les Sins.

A standout in the airwaves right now is undeniably Tinashe. The 21 year old songstress has pipes. The future of R&B is clear on "Cold Sweat" produced by Soulection's Sango as well as Boi1da and SykSense. Stated to be her favorite track, Tinashe's impressive vocal range is evident throughout. Following three home recorded mixtapes, she's created a classic with her debut album Aquarius released this month. 

Across the pond, up and coming rapper Jay Prince has a unique way of breaking down fundamental soulful terms. First with his breakout "Stay On My Cool" and most recently "Feel It" produced by another Soulection artist, IAMNOBODI. Whereas James Brown's "I Got The Feeling" is loud and exquisitely brash, Prince keeps his cool riding a triumphant, upbeat jazz backdrop. There's a unifying element to Jay Prince's sound often acquiring a group chorus instilling a sense of community with his message. 

Soul is inherent in every breath and tone Nick Hakim exhales on "I Don't Know" from his Where Will You Go Pt.2 EP. The guitar intro tells a familiar story before Hakim's voice enters, melting over every strum, a single snare beat and gospel piano chord progressions. Both of Hakim's eps are a gorgeous and humanizing expression of the complexities of life and death.

Robin Hannibal's reputable production strikes gold alongside Niia's warm, mocha vocals on "Body". Niia's debut EP Generation Blue, entirely produced by Hannibal of Rhye and Quadron, is set to release October 28th. Let's hope the duo have more crave-worthy future jazz tracks up there sleeve to cut through the crisp Autumn air.

Keep groovin' with Childish Gambino's "Sober" of his Kauai EP... mixtape. Donald Glover is doing things differently, dropping two mixtapes on the same day earlier this month, STN MTN/ Kauai. DJ Drama hosted, STN MTN is a Gangsta Grillz mixtape that transcends into funk, pop Kauai featuring Christian Rich, the multi faceted rapper's brother Steve Glover and MSFT Jaden Smith. The accessibility of both mixtapes is significant. Stream them, download STN MTN while you're there and listen to Kauai on Spotify. The successful actor, comedian, singer and rapper has all his bases covered.

Kiesza's hard hitting "Bad Thing" featuring (only fitting) Joey Bada$$ is a step away from the dance pop track "Hideaway" that put the Canadian singer in the spotlight this year. Take a break from the high sailing energy of Kiesza's previous songs and get down with the old school beat and bluesy rhythms of her latest. The depth of her artistic range will be told on her debut album Sound of a Woman, due out October 21st.

Singer-songwriter Grace Mitchell has a profound maturity for only 16 years old. A tinge of Lorde or Lana del Rey is clear from her style but her songwriting and delivery set her apart. The brother duo of Hippie Sabotage take their spin on Mitchell's "Broken Over You" replacing the original track's orchestral quality with bass induced reverb. With a successful record on The Secret Life of Mitty soundtrack, notable nods like this remix and her recently dropped EP Design, there's sure to be a buzz growing very soon. (Track was removed from soundcloud, please enjoy it here)

Enyce voices the playful innocence of childhood with "Life Good (Soda Pop)". With a little help from producer, songwriter and videographer Duan Gaines, the young rapper paints a vivid picture of his day in the life story. The music video truly completes the imagery where Enyce spends time with his friends drinking pop. The energetic dance moves will have you mimicking the infectious Chicago bopping style before the video's end. Very refreshing to see and hear a fun, positive song unearth from Chi.

"... the sun is out, raining down on me and I'm feelin' good, won't see a frown on me." Take a note from Enyce and get outside to enjoy the sights and sounds before Autumn comes to a close.